Label-making machine.



M. H. BALLARD.

LABEL MAKING MACHINE.

M. H. BALLARD.

LABEL MAKING MACHINE. APPLlcATloN FILED SEPT. 25. 1911.

Patented June 13, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Sw kN a NNN Mnesse R M. H. BALLARD.

LABEL MAKING MACHINE.

Paf-sented June 13, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3 APPLICATION FILED SEPT 25 I9II \\\\\\h mm fnvenor /Vzfon /Z/llaroz.

l/fo'ney BALLARD.

LABEL MAKING MACHINE.4

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-25,1911.'

Patented June 13, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

mam/mazza@ l M. H. BALLARD.

LABEL MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED sEPT..25. IsI I.

Patented June 13, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

THE COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH C0., wASHINcI-I'ON, n. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT onirica.

MILTON H. BALLARD, 0F LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO FEDERAL MANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALI- FORNIA'.

LABEL-MAKING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. .Patented J 1111@ 13, 1916,

Application led September 25, 1911. Serial No. 551,114. l

To all whom t may concern Be it known that l, MILTON H. BALLARD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefullmprovement in Label-Making Machines, of which the following is a specification accompanied by drawings forming a part 'of the same.

The object of my present invention is to provide a machine by which labels may be manufactured in a continuous strip or roll, and it comprises mechanism for shaping the individual labels from a continuous strip of paper or other suitable material and embossing or printing upon each of the labels a design, delivering-the labels from the machine in a continuous strip, and I accomplish this object bv the construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described, the novel features being pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side view of a label making machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the machine showing the side opposite that shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view. Fig. 4 is a plan View with a portion of the ink distributing mechanism removed. Figs. 5 and 6 are detailed views partly in section, of the mechanism for adjusting the type cylinders. Figs. 7 and 8 are detailed views partly in section of the cam actuated mechanism for `operating the ink transferring cylinders of the printing mechanism. Figs. 9, 10 and 1l are detailed views of one of the type cylinders. Fig. l2 is a detailed end view of one of the ink distributing rollers, together with tlieyielding ink transferring rollers by which ink is transferred from the distributing rollers to the t-ype cylinders. Fig. 13 is a detailed view of the guide adjusting mechanism. Fig. 1l is a detailed view in sectionV of the eccentric mechanism for adjusting the posi- Vtion of theplaten cylinders to the type cylinders. Fig. 15 is a plan view of the mechani'sm for imparting a longitudinal tension to the strip of labels. Fig. 16 is a rear View of a portion ofthe ink transferring mechanism. Fig. 17 is a plan view of a portion of a continuous strip of paper or other material from which a continuous row of labels is formed. Fig. 18 is a plan View of a series of completed labels removed from the continuous strip shown in Fig. 17:V Figs. 19and 20 are diagrammatic figures showing side and plan viewsrespectively of a row of labels in its passagek through the machine', and also showing armodiied form of the tensionV device. Fig. 2l is a central sectional Vview of the expanding roll forming part of the modified tension device, illustrated in Fig. 20. f Y' Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in the different figures.

The machine to which myrpresent invention relates is designed to produce in a continuous strip a series of labels, which in the presentY instance are printed with some desirable design, and delivered continuously from the machine to a drying room or suitable drying apparatus, not shown, or described herein, as the method of drying forms no part of my present invention.

The completed labels are cut in any fanciful shape which may be desired, in the presentr instance in the form of` circular disks connected together by a narrow neck, as shown in Figl 18, forming rentering angles with curved sides between` the labels. The labels which, in the present instance, are assumed to be formed from paper are cut from a continuous strip, as shown at 1, Fig. 17,

`having parallel sides and fed to the machine from ay coil. From the strip 1 by suitable mechanism the labels 2 are partially severed, the side strips 3,3, being separated -from the labels which are delivered in a continuous strip, as shown at 4, Fig. 18.

During the passage of the continuous strip of labels through the machine, one surface vof the label may be embossed, or, as in the present instance, printed, by a printing mechanism which as shown in Fig. 18, colors the surface black, with the exception of a triangular figure or delta 5. The labels 4t are severed at their connecting necks forming individual labels which may be attached as a designation'to any desired object', such,

for example, as oranges or other fruit, or

any article of merchandise which it is desired -to designate by a special label.

Referring to Fig. 3, the continuous strip of paper in its passage through the machine Y is indicated by the broken line .6, and is taken from a coil not shown, between a pair of revolving brushes 7 and 8, for the purpose of removingdust or lint from the surface of the paper. The brushes 7 and 8 are positively rotated in the direction of the arrows 9 and 10 by belt connections 11, 12, and 13 Fig. 2, with a pulley 14 carried upon a driving shaft 15 to which power is imparted through a belt pulley 1G from any convenient source. The upper brush 8 is journaled in a pivoted framework 17, and the brushes are drawn together by the tension of the crossed belt 11, the distance between the axes of the brushes being deter'- mined by an adjusting screw 18.

From the brushes 7 and 8 the continuous strip of paper 6 is conducted through a guide 19, Fig. 3, consisting of a pair of flanged plates 20 and 21, Fig. 13, capable. of being adjusted for strips of different widths, and also to vary the center' of the strip relatively to the cutting and pr'inting mechanisms. The adjusting mechanism for the flanged plates 20 and 21 forming the guide 19 is shown in Fig. 13 and consists of a rotatable rod 22 having near one end a screwthread 23 engaging a screw threaded collar 24 on which the flanged plate 21 is mounted. Loosely held upon the rod 22 between the collars 25 is a sleeve 26 upon which is mounted the flanged plate 20. The rod 22 is also provided with a screwthread 27 which engages the screwthr'eaded interior of the sleeve 28. The sleeve 28 is provided with an exterior screwthread 29 which engages a screwthreaded opening in a supporting framework 30. The screwthread 27 is twice the pitch of the screwthread 23, and, as the collar 24 and sleeve 26 are held from rotating by the engagement of the guide plates 20 and 21 with the fixed framework of the machine, the rotation of the screwthreaded rod will impart twice the movement to the sleeve 26 than to the collar 24, thereby bringing the plates 2O and 21 together', when the rod 22 is rotated in one direction Vand separating the plates 2O and 21 when the rod 22 is rotated in the opposite direction. By this means a uniform movement toward or away from each other' is imparted to the flanged guide plates 2O and 21 in order to adjust the guide to accommodate strips of different widths. lVhen the guide plates have been thus adjusted the entire rod 22 may be moved endwise in the framework by the independent rotation of the screw threaded sleeve 28. By the adjustment of the guide plates 20, 21, the continuous strip is conducted to a cutting mechanism consisting of a pair of cutting disks carried upon a rotating shaft 31 and having their peripheries provided with cutting edges and crimped or properly shaped to form the desired outline of the labels. One of these cutting disks is represented at 32, Fig. 3, and is arranged to coperate with an upper roll 33, said disks 32 and roll 33 being adjusted to rotate in close proximity but not in absolute contact.

The roll 33, which forms a bed roll against which the paper strip is pressed, is loosely journaled, but the cutting disks 82 are positively driven, by means of a gear' 34 carried upon the driving shaft 15, Fig. 3. The cutting disks and bed roll 323 are adjusted by means of adjusting screws 35 which bear upon the journal boxes 3G Fig. 2, of the bed roll 323. The journal boxes 3G rest upon spiral springs 37 interposed between the journal boxes 36 and the journal boxes 38 of the cutting disks 32. From the cutting disks the paper strip having its iibers partially separated by the action of the disks 32 is conducted through a second guide 39, Fig. 3, constructed similar to the guide 19 and capable of adjustment by an adjusting mechanism similar to that already described with reference to that of the guide 19, and comprising a rotating screwthreaded rod 40 similar' to the screwthreaded rod From the guide 39 the paper strip G is conducted over a narrow guide plate 41, shown in plan view in Figs. 4 and 15.

The guide plate 41 passes over a roll 42 and between a pair' of rolls and 44 carried upon a shaft rlhe side strips 3, 3, Fig. 17, are conducted downward upon each side of the plate 41 and between the roll 42 and the rolls 43 and 44 into the delivery tribe 46, Fig. 3, the side strips being indicatedv in Fig. 3 by the broken line Si'. The rolls 43 and 44 are pressed against the roll 42 by a yielding pressure exerted by a spring 47 and adjusted by screws 4S, Fig. 15. The shaft 49 carrying the roll 42 is geared to the shaft 45 by gears 50 and 51, and the gear 5() is capable of a frictional engagement with a driving gear 52 by means of a conical nut 53 carried upon a screwthreaded section of the shaft 49. Ey disengaging the shaft 49 from the driving power the friction rolls 42, and 44 may be rotated by a hand wheel 54 carried upon the shaft 49, as shown in Fig. 15.

In order to enable the side strips 3 to be separated from the central row of labels 2 at each of the rentering angles the guide plate 41 is provided above the rollv 42 with triangular' spurs 55 Fig. 15, on its edges over which the inner edges of the side strips 3 are drawn in their' downward movement over the roll 42, thereby producing a lateral or transverse strain upon the side strips in order to draw the renter'ing angles 56, Fig. 17 away from the labels without tear'- ing the latter'.

The mechanism for cutting the row of labels fr'om a continuous strip and separating the side strips therefrom forms no part of my present invention, it having been fully described in my pending application, Serial No. 621,276, for a label cutting machine.

The cutting disks 82, bed roll and ten- Vtei-mined pressure.

sion rolls 42, 43, and 4:4, are substantially the same in my present invention as those shown and described in. my pending application aforesaid. In my present improvement, however, I have separated farther apart the cutting disks and the tension rolls, and have interposed between them mechanism for printing upon the upper surface of the labels any desired figure or ornamentation, consisting in the present instance of the triangular figure or delta 5 Fig. 18.

The printing mechanism comprises a duplicate set of type cylinders with duplicate ink distributing and ink transferring rolls, with mechanismA for supplying ink thereto from a single ink font. The duplicate type cylinders and their coperating platen cylinders are arranged one behind the other and adapted to print alternate labels, the first type cylinder printing every other label in the row` and the second type cylinder printing the remaining or alternating labels. A description of the last or second printing mechanism will suffice as a description of both.

It consists of a type cylinder 57 Fig. 3, bearing upon its periphery equally spaced type or impression plates 58, with their outer concentricsurfaces arranged to coperate with a yielding peripheralsurface 59 of a platen cylinder 60, rotating upon an eccentric sleeve 61 attached to a shaft 62 journaled in the framework of the machine, and carrying upon its outer end a radial arm 63, Figs. 1 and 14, having its outer end pivotally connected with a sliding plate 64 lying against the outer side or framework 65 of the machine, and arranged to be clamped thereto by means of a clamping screw 66 passing through a curved slot 67 in the sliding plate 64. A stop 68 projecting from the side of the machine contacts with a set screw 69 carried by the sliding plate 64 in order to limit its sliding motion in one direction.

By moving the sliding plate 64, Fig. l, toward the left, the shaft 62 is rocked, carrying the eccentric sleeve 61 and lowering the platen cylinder 60. By reversing the movement of the eccentric sleeve 61 the platen cylinder 60 may be raised and the amount of pressure between the type plates 58 and the yielding surface 59 of the platen cylinder varied as desired. The set screw 69 and contact stop 68 enables the platen cylinder to be raised to produce any prede- Attached to the shaft 70 carrying the type cylinder 57 is a collar 71 having a radial flange 72 provided with equidistant notches 73 adapted to receive a projecting spur 74 on the side of the type plates 58, thereby insuring the equal spacing of the type plates around the periphery of the Vrolls 101 and 102.

type cylinder 57. Each of the type plates 58 is clamped against the flange 72 by a clamping plate 75 and screw 76. One end of the shaft 70 which carries the type cylinder is provided with a concentric recess 77, Figs. l5 and 6. Journaled loosely on the recessed end ofthe shaft 70 is a gear wheel 78 and pivoted upon the outer side of the gear wheel 78 is a dog 79 capable of rocking upon the stud 80 carried by the 75 gear wheel 78. The outer end 81 of the dog bears against the outer end 82 of a radial arm 83 attached by a set screw 84 to the reT cessed end of the shaft 70. The inner end 85 of the dog 79 enters through a side opening 86 in the shaft 70 into .the recess 77 and bears against the tapered end 87 of an adjusting screw 88, held in a bracket 89 at-Y tached to the side framework 65 of the machine. By screwing the adjusting screw 88 35 into or out of the bracket 89 the dog 79 `may be rocked on the gear 78, thereby varying the angular relation of thegear 78 and the type cylinder', allowing the type cylinder to be rotated .forward or back to bring the type plates 58 into registration with the labels passing beneath them.

Journaled in the framework of the machine above the type cylinder 57 is an ink cylinder 907 sho-wn in detached view in Fig. 12. 'Ihe ink cylinder 90v is carried upon a shaft 91 and pivoted upon the shaft 91 are two frames 92 and 93. The outer ends .of the frames 92 and 93 are connected by aV spiral spring 94 with its tension applied to 10o draw the frames together, the movement of i the frames being limited by means of adjusting screws 95 and 96 contacting with aV projecting bracket upon the framework of the machine and indicated in Fig. 12 at 97. 105 Each of the frames 92 and 93 are provided at opposite ends with radial sliding studs 98 and 99. The radial sliding studs 98Y and 99 are drawn toward the shaft 91 by spiral springs, one of which is shownV at 100, Fig. 110 12, and journaled in th'e outer' ends of the studs 98 and 99 are theink transferring The springs 100 draw the transferring rolls 101 and 102 into contact with the ink cylinder 90, while the 115 spring 94 draws the rolls into contact with the type plates 58, the contact therewith being regulated by the adjusting screws 95 and 96. Directly above the ink cylinder 90 vare a pair of distributing rolls 103 and 104 120 carried upon spindles 105 and 106, Fig. 4, capable of a longitudinal reciprocating movement in lthe framework of the machine. r"he ends of the spindles 105 and 106 are inclosed in the rectangular frames 107 and 125 108 to which a reciprocating movement is imparted through the levers 109 and 110 by a cam 111 carried upon the rotating shaft 112, Figs. 2 and 4.

Ink is supplied to the ink cylinder 90 130 LTL from a hopper or ink font 113, Fig. 3, by means of an ink roll 114 entering an opening in the side of the font 113, and rotating in contact with the ink contained therein. rhe amount of ink carried out of the font upon the periphery of the roll 114 is regulated by a scraping plate 115, having its free edge contacting with the periphery of the ink roll and adjusted by the adjusting screw 11G. Beneath the ink roll 114 is an ink transferring roll 117 journaled in a rocking frame 113, capable of a rocking motion on pivotal studs 119, 120, Figs. 1 and 2.

The rocking frame 118, 2, is periodically raised to carry the roll 117 into Contact with the roll 114 by means of a cam 121, rotating' upon the stud 122. At each revolution of the cam 121 the roll 117 is raised to take ink from the ink roll 114 and depressed by a spiral spring 123, Fig. 2, into contact with the ink tables 124, 125 and 126, as the latter are traversed in a horizontal path by means of a pair of endless chains, one of which is shown at 127, Fig. 3. The endless chains 127 are carried at one end upon rolls 123, one of which is shown in Fig. 3, and at the opposite end upon ro tating sprocket wheels 129, one of which is also shown in Fig. 3. The ink tables 124, 125 and 126 are pivotally connected with the links of the chains 127 and are moved in the direction of the arrow 139 by the rotation of the sprocket wheels 129. As the ink tables traverse the horizontal paths of the chain 127, they are moved against the upper and lower guide rails 131 and 132 which maintain them in a horizontal position.

As the ink tables pass successively over the upper rail 131 and beneath the roll 117 the latter is depressed into contact with the table, by the action of the spring 123 and cam 121, thereby transferring its ink to the upper surface of the table, which then moves beneath the distributing roll 133, causing a more even distribution of ink upon the surface of the ink tables. As the ink tables move beneath the lower rail 132 their inked surfaces are brought undermost and into contact with an ink roll 134, causing ink upon the ink tables to be transferred thereto. The ink roll 134 is journaled in vertical slots in the lined frame of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1G. Beneath and supporting the ink roll 134 is an ink transferring roll 135 journaled in a swinging frame 13G, which is normally drawn forward by a spring 137 Figs. 3 to 16, to hold the transfer roll 135 in permanent contact with the ink cylinder 99. The swinging frame 136 is carried upon a sleeve 133 which rocks about an inclosed shaft 139 journaled in the frame of the machine. The sleeve 138 is cut away at its center to disclose the shaft 139 which is provided with a notch message 140 Fig. 3, in which rests a` radial spindle 141 carrying upon its upper end a yoke 142 in which is journaled the gudgeons of the roll 135, Fig. 16.- The yoke 142 is periodically drawn down toward the sleeve 133 by means of a spiral spring 143, thereby depressing the roll 135 and allowing the roll 134 which rests upon the roll 135 to fall out of Contact with the ink tables.

In order to carry the roll 134 into and out of contact with the ink tables, a rocking motion is periodically imparted to the shaft 139 by a cam mechanism shown in Fig. 7. Extending radially from the end of the shaft 139 is an arm 144 Fig. 7, with its end projecting` into the path of a cam plate 145, carried upon the inner side of a gear 146 turning loosely upon a fixed stud 147. Partially inclosing the end of the shaft 139 is a sleeve 143 to which a strap 149 is attached. rfhe end of the strap 149 is spaced from the radial arm 144 by adjusting screws 150. The sleeve 143 is connected with a fixed framework by a spiral spring 151 which normally holds a. stop pin 152 projecting from the sleeve 148 against the framework, as shown in Fig. 7. As the cam plate 145 rotates in the direction of the arrow 153 it imparts a rocking motion to the shaft 139 in proper direction to lift the spindle 141 and yoke 142 and carry the ink transferring roll 135 upward and push the roll 134 into contact with the ink table which at the time may be passing over it. After the cam plate 145 passes the radial arm 144 the action of the spring 143 will reverse the rocking motion of the shaft 139 and again depress the free end of the radial arm 144, allowing the spring 143 to depress the yoke 142 and the ink transferring roll 135, allowing the roll 134 to descend out of contact with the ink table.

By the action of the cam mechanism shown in Fig. 7 the transfer roll 134 is alternately brought into and out of contact with the ink tables. while the transfer roll 135 remains normally in contact with both the ink cylinder 90 and the transfer roll 134. Referring to Fig. 3, the ink transferring rolls 134 and 135 are shown in the position to transfer ink'from the inking table 126 to the ink cylinder 90 during the passage over the inking roll 134 of the ink table 126. During the passage of the next ink table, or table 124, the ink transferring rolls 134 and 135 are depressed and again raised to take ink from the next succeeding table, or table 125. The ink tables are therefore alternately connected and disconnected with the ink cylinder 90.

The duplicate printing mechanism comprising the platen cylinder type cylinder 57a, and its inking mechanism. which is the duplicate of that just described in connection with the type cylinder 57, has

its rising and falling ink transferring rolls 1342l and 135 arranged to be raised and depressed in a similar manner to the transfel-ring rolls 134 and 135 by means of a cam mechanism shown in detail in Fig. k6, and comprising a rocking shaft 139?L provided with a radial arm 144a which isalternately raised by the action of a cani plate 145a carried upon a gear 146a and depressed by a spiral spring 151% The action of the cam mechanism shown in Fig. 8 is arranged to act upon the ink transferring roll 134:L to raise the same into position to take ink from those ink tables which do not deliver ink to the roll 134.

In the operation of the ink mechanism, as represented in Fig. 3, ink will be transferred from the ink table 126 to the inkV cylinder 90, while the transfer rolls 135a and 134fL will be depressed during the passage of ink table 126 over the inkroll 1343, but will be raised in position to take ink from the next succeeding table 124. As there are two inking cylinders and 90, and three ink tables, 124, 125 and 126, it follows that the order of ink transference will be broken at each successive rotation of the endless chains 127, so that the ink table which may deliver ink to one of the ink cylinders 90 or 90- during one revolution of the chain 127 will, during the next revolution of the chains 127, deliver ink to the other inking cylinder only.l By alternating the inking tables and employing one more table than there are inking cylinders, I accomplish a more even distribution of ink upon the type cylinders 57 and 57"L for, if any one of the ink tables should carry an excess of ink, such excess would be delivered alternately to the two ink cylinders. Power is applied to the driving shaft 15 and the proper timing of the several printing mechanisms is secured by geared connections with the shaft 15. The

' geared connection between the type cylinders and inking roll shafts 91 and 91a is accomplished by their geared connection through intermediate gears 154 and 155, with a gear 15G-carried on the driving shaft 15, Fig. i.

The shafts 45 and 49 of the tension rolls 42, 43 and 44 are connected with the printing mechanism through the intermediate gears 157 and 158, Fig. 1. The shaft 70 of the type cylinder 57 carries a pinion 159 Fig. 2, on one end which engages the gear 164 turning loosely on the stud 162. Attached to the hub of the gear 164 is a gear 160 which engages a gear 161 turning loosely on the stud 147, and carrying on its hub a sprocket wheel 163 and the gear 146. The gear 164 rotates the cam gear 146. The sprocket wheel 163 has a chain connection 165 with a sprocket wheel V166 turning loosely on a stud 167 held in a two armed lever 168, pivoted at 169 to thepost 170.

The twoarmed lever 168 may be rocked on its pivot in order to tighten the` chain 165 and held in position by means of a clamping bolt 171 passing through a slot 172 inV the lever and entering the post 170. On the hub of the sprocket wheel 166 is a gear 173 which meshes with a gear 174 attached toa shaft 176 which carries the sprocket wheels 129 by which the ink table chains 127 are driven. From the gear 174, Fig. 2, the ink roll 114 is rotated through intermediate tension rolls which vary from the rolls 42 and 43, shown in the preceding figures, in that the roll D is an expansion roll capable gears 175, 177 and 178, the latter gear carryof adjustment to increase or decrease its periphery, and thereby control the longitudinal movement of the label strip through the machine. The roll D consists of a series of radial blades F which are expanded by a central cone G to increase the periphery of the roll. Spiral springs H, H, are Wound about the outer edges of the blades to hold them in contact with the central cone and contract the roll as the cone is withdrawn.

By the use of the expanding roll D the speed of the label strip can be varied positively and at will, relativelyl to the peripheral speed of the cutting disks. After the strip of completed labels has left the machine, I preferablycarry it beneath a oating roll I to form a loop, and to a wheel J having in its periphery a series of indentations K fitting the labels and acting as a sprocket wheel to withdrawV the labels from the machine and also to enable the operator to determine whether the proper number of labels are being formed in a given lengthV of the strip and enable the proper adjustment of the tension rolls to be made, so as to secure the proper length of the strip passing through the cutting rolls at each revolution of the latter.

The operation of the machine is as follows The continuous strip 6 is taken from a coil, not shown, between the dust removing brushes 7 and 8, revolving against the movement of the strip. The guides 19 and 39 having been suitably adjusted conduct the strip to the cutting mechanism by which the strip is nearly severed to shape a central row of labels, formed in the present instance :as

circular disks slightly connected at their edges. From the cutting mechanism the strip passes between the type cylinders 57a and 57 and platen rolls GO1 and 60 to the guide plate 41. The side or waste strips 3, 3, are conducted downward between the ten sion rolls 42 and 43 and through the tube 3. Adjustment 01"' the bed roll 33 is made to determine the amount of severance of the paper fibers, and an adjustment of the type cylinders is made to cause the type impression to register with the labels. The platen rolls are adjusted to regulate the impression and the tension rolls are adi usted to increase the movement of the strip through the ma chine in order that a definite and predetermined length of strip shall contain the exact number of labels required, which can be determined by observing the passage of the strip over the wheel J, the movement of the strip being increased or decreased to cause the labels to fit the indented spaces K.

1 claim- 1. 1n a label making machine, a rotating cutting mechanism for acting upon a continuous strip of material in the direction of its length to form a series of uniformly spaced labels therein, means for applying tension to said continuous strip, and a pair of rotating type cylinders having plates upon their peripheries spaced to correspond with the spacing of the labels in said continuous strip, said type cylinders being arranged to simultaneously print alternate labels in said series.

2. 1n a label making machine, a rotating cutting mechanism for acting upon av continuous strip ot' material in the direction of its length to form a series of uniformly spaced labels therein, means for increasing the speed ot' the strip of material independ ent-ly of the peripheral speed of the cutting mechanism, a pair of type cylinders interposed between said cutting mechanism and said speed increasing means having type plates on their peripheries spaced to correspond with the spaced labels in vthe continuous strip, said type cylinders being arranged to simultaneously print alternate labels in said series.

3. In a label making machine, a rotating cutting mechanism for acting upon a continuous strip of material in the direction of its length to form a series of uniformly spaced labels therein, means for imparting a longitudinal tension to the strip of material, a pair of rotating type cylinders interposed between said cutting mechanism and said tensioning means having type plates on. their peripheries spaced to correspond with the spaced labels, and an impression cylinder tor each type cylinder.A said type cylinder being arranged to simultaneously print altornate labels in said series.

Dated this twenty-rst day ot September, 1911.

MILTON H. BALLARD. lVitnesses PENnLorE CoMnnaAcI-I, NELLIE XVHALEN.

Copies of this patent may ne obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

